Ekadasi, Varaha Dvadasi, and Nityananda Trayodasi

18 Feb 11

Gaudiya Vaisnavas observe all Visnu-tattva appearance days along with special fasting. Sometimes these days come next to each other, or next to an Ekadasi or Dvadasi-tithi which is also meant for fasting. This happens somewhere in the world for Lord Varaha Dvadasi and Lord Nityananda Trayodasi, but not at all locations (due to different sunrise times).

According to where you are in the world, the proper way to observe these Vaisnava festivals, namely Ekadasi, Varaha-dvadasi, and Nityananda Trayodasi is as follows:

In countries or cities where the first day is Ekadasi, the second day is the appearance of Lord Varahadeva, and the third day is the appearance day of Lord Nityananda (Nityananda Trayodasi), for both those who follow nirjala Ekadasi (full fasting, even from water) and those who follow anukalpa (respecting Ekadasi preparations) on Ekadasi tithi: on the next day they first offer arati to Lord Varahadeva, pray for forgiveness*[see endnote 1], and then break the fast* [see endnote 2] with grains and continue to respect regular prasadam (grains and all other offerings). Then, on the third day - Sri Nityananda Trayodasi - they observe the Ekadasi rules and regulations.

In countries or cities where Ekadasi fasting and the appearance of Lord Varahadeva are observed on same day, or in countries and cities where the appearance of Lord Varahadeva and Lord Nityananda are observed on same day, the devotees who follow nirjala Ekadasi, can break their Ekadasi fast by drinking water on the next day, and for the rest of the day respect anukalpa ( regular Ekadasi preparations).

For those devotees who respect Ekadasi in the regular manner (respecting offerings of anukalpa), the next day they first offer arati to Lord Nityananda (and Lord Varaha if those days are merged), then hear Their glories. After this they pray for forgiveness*[see endnote 1] and then they may break their fast by taking grains. The rest of the day they may respect regular prasadam.

*[Endnote 1 – generally the appearance day of Lord Varahadeva, as with any incarnation’s appearance day, is observed by taking only ekadasi preparations.